SOPOT, Poland, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Bulgaria expressed its confidence that construction of the South Stream gas pipeline through its territory would go forward as planned, officials said.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of Polish commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II.
Russia and Bulgaria have engaged in bilateral talks for the South Stream gas pipeline and the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.
"We do not have any problems on South Stream," Borisov said.
South Stream would bring natural gas from Central Asia and Russia to European markets through the Black Sea. Burgas-Alexandroupolis will bring Caspian and Russian oil through Greece.
Putin left the door open for Bulgaria to back out of either project, but urged Sofia time was of the essence, RIA Novosti reports.
"If for some reasons your government realizes that a certain project is not in Bulgaria's interest, I am convinced there will be no problems in our relations," he said.
Bulgaria is considering a series of local measures on the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline construction. Borisov expressed support for that project but said he needed time to examine the issues.
